Raiders' free-agency gains don't make up for losses

Updated 7:30 am, Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Darren McFadden, who has missed 19 of the Raiders' past 41 games, will return on a one-year deal worth $4 million.

Darren McFadden, who has missed 19 of the Raiders' past 41 games, will return on a one-year deal worth $4 million.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Raiders' free-agency gains don't make up for losses

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The day Raiders fans have been waiting for didn't go exactly as they had hoped.

The team lost its leading rusher, leading pass-rusher and best offensive lineman Tuesday, the first day of free agency.

The Raiders, who have more than $60 million to spend under the salary cap, did re-sign injury-prone running back Darren McFadden and agreed to five-year contracts with offensive linemen Rodger Saffold and Austin Howard.

Former Ram Saffold is slated to replace the departed Jared Veldheer at left tackle, but that could change, based on other free-agent moves and the draft.

Many scouts think the 25-year-old Saffold is better at guard. Saffold will get a $42.5 million contract with $21 million guaranteed despite missing 17 games with injuries in four seasons in St. Louis.

Late Tuesday night, the Raiders signed right tackle Howard, who had started 32 straight games for the Jets. Howard got a five-year, $30 million deal that could mean Saffold plays guard if second-year player Menelik Watson is ready to start at left tackle.

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Veldheer signed a five-year deal for $35 million with the Cardinals. Veldheer's mother said the Raiders never made a comparable offer, and league sources said Veldheer made it clear to the Raiders early on that he didn't want to come back unless it was for a huge offer.

Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie said recently that he wanted Veldheer and defensive end Lamarr Houston back, but he didn't put a franchise tag on either to lock them up. Houston, who had a team-high six sacks last season, signed a five-year deal for $35 million Tuesday with the Chicago Bears.

The 28-year-old started eight games for the Raiders last year, taking over for McFadden and running for 733 yards and six scores while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He added 36 receptions for 292 yards and didn't fumble all year.

Terms of his deal with the Giants were undisclosed, but Jennings said it was more than the Raiders offered.

McFadden, meanwhile, signed for one year for up to $4 million, but $2.25 million of that is incentives and only $100,000 is guaranteed. He was limited to 379 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 10 games last season; McFadden has missed 19 of the team's past 41 games.

Earlier Tuesday, the Raiders were trying to make some big things happen.

But that fizzled by the afternoon, with word that Revis would not restructure his contract and that the Raiders were "discouraged" from continuing to pursue a trade.

The Buccaneers are expected to release Revis if they are unable to deal him by 1 p.m. Wednesday. Revis has a $1.5 million roster bonus due Wednesday, and the fourth-round pick the Buccaneers traded to the New York Jets last year would become a third-round pick if Revis is on Tampa's roster as of 4:01 p.m.

Also, defensive tackle Vance Walker had an offer to return to Oakland but is exploring the free-agent market.

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